Fate of Mubarak Mandi Ropeway Project hangs in balance

Special Correspondent JAMMU: Even after 45 days of trial run, the fate of much awaited Mubarak Mandi-Mahamaya-Bahu Fort Ropeway Project, yet another tourist attraction in the winter capital, still hangs in balance despite government’s assurance to set it in motion by mid this year. However there are no signs of its launch.
According to sources, the work on the mega project is in full swing but it may not be able to meet its deadline of taking off for the general public by next month.
The trial run of the ropeway project was conducted on April 27 under the supervision of BJP MLA and the then Minister of State, Tourism Priya Sethi.
Sources said that the Bahu Fort-Mahamaya-Peerkho Ropeway Project was all set for the rollout by July but in view of some hiccups, it may get delayed.
The Rs 75 crore project was floated in 1995 when a cable car was planned to be operated from Bahu Fort to Mubarak Mandi Complex.
Later, when Mubarak Mandi and Bahu Fort were declared as protected monuments, the project was modified and relocated.
The project is being executed by the J&K Cable Car Corporation besides experts and engineers.
“It is one of the dream projects for the people of Jammu,” Ramesh Jamwal, a retired government employees told this correspondent.
He said that due to prevailing Kashmir situation, the tourists love to visit Jammu and anybody coming to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine would want to spend good quality time in the City of Temples, which is impossible without having good tourist attractions and destinations.
“The Government is promoting Kashmir by all means but Jammu has always remained a secondary option”, he added.
“The project is of utmost importance and going to be biggest tourist attraction besides adding to aesthetics of the Jammu City”, said an official adding that keeping in view ecotourism, the cable car project will provide people high-quality tourism and generate good employment.
“Work on casting of truss beam of Section-I Mahamaya Station and seven tower structures have been completed. Twelve coaches will start running on the first stretch hopefully by next month to meet the deadline,” they added.
The 1.7-km cable car project has two stretches – first from Bahu Fort to Mahamaya Park, which is 447-metre-long, and the second is from Mahamaya to Peerkho over the Tawi River and its total length is 1,118 metres.
Sources said that the critical components of the cable car are being procured from Turkey, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Since these components are being imported from different countries, efforts are underway to have it completed with stipulated time frame, they added.
The project will give a boost to the tourism industry of the Jammu region as pilgrim tourists may like to more time in Jammu during their visit to the Vaishno Devi shrine, Amarnath shrine, Patnitop and other tourist destinations.
The cable car project is aimed at connecting heritage sites of Bahu Fort, Badh-e-Bahu Garden and aquarium to Mubarak Mandi Heritage Palace, Mahamaya Temple and Peerkho Temple.